Cheveu, vieillissement et environnement : aspects fondamentaux

Oxidative stress is triggered by a multitude of interconnected environmental and endogenous factors such as exposure to ultraviolet rays, drugs, emotional stress, pollutants, smoking, cutaneous and perifollicular inflammation. Oxygen-derived free radicals accumulate in the cell, particularly in the mitochondria. The cell then sets off defense mechanisms against this oxidative stress. In the hair follicle, when these mechanisms are deficient, oxidative stress reduces the anagen phase, prematurely triggers the catagen phase, and alters the endothelial cells of the peribulbar microvessels, leading to aging of the hair follicle and whitening of the hair shaft through melanocyte alteration. Reducing oxidative stress with cytoprotective and antioxidating drugs such as N-acetylcysteine seems to be a promising therapeutic solution.